Guyana Chronicle E-paper 12-31-2018

MONDAY 31st December, 2018

Wisdom Cops closing in prevailed No.105504

–– AG says gov't acted wisely during confidence vote 03 PAGE

Man wanted in Canada kil ed 09 in Georgetown

on Charrandas PAGE

–– Min. Ramjattan hints at major 09 probe into alleged corrupt transaction

PAGE

Supply resident killed 02 in accident PAGE

Linden Deputy Mayor Wainewright Bethune is hard at work. In this photo, he is seen installing a barrier in Richmond Hill with the help of a member of the community policing group (Venessa Braithwaite)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Linden councillors get down to work in communities

By Vanessa Braithwaite

COUNCILLORS of the municipality of Linden are on a mission to work with the constituents that voted for them in the recently held Local Government Elections (LGEs) and are displaying a hands-on approach to development and the creation of change within the communities.

During the campaign season, residents complained that their constituency representatives are more absent than present in the communities and have not been making representation for the concerns of the residents and getting adequately involved in the process of development.

The newly sworn-in councillors are on a mission to change this rhetoric through consolidation, cohesion and corporation.

Councillor of Constituency Four in Linden, who is also Deputy Mayor Wainewright Bethune, has been setting the example. He has been working aggressively, all in an ef-

The welcome sign to Fairsrust that was recently erected fort to see the transformation of his Constituency which consists of communities such as Watooka, Fairs Rust, Noitgedacht and Richmond Hill. These communities were

once the upscale communities of Linden during the earlier years of bauxite mining and had always had a residential image attached to it. In recent times, however,

the image of South Mackenzie drastically declined and Bethune noted that he is working hard to return South Mackenzie to its former days.

During the last few weeks, Bethune has been collaborating with the Community Development Council (CDC) and the Community Policing Group (CPG) to undertake major community projects for the beatification and to improve the general aesthetics of the communities. One of four community welcome signs have been completed, drains are being cleared, the communities are being de-bushed and landscaped and road corridors are being maintained. He said that very soon a barrier will be erected on Cassarina Drive to detour lumber trucks from not only damaging the road but also putting pedestrians at risks, since there is a school, a hospital and other public offices in the vicinity.

“It is all community efforts, to bring See page 7

Supply resident killed in accident THE police are trying to locate the driver of a car which fatally struck down a 34-year-old man at Supply , East Bank Demerara on Sunday morning.

Dead is Shayne Haynes, a father of two.

The man’s sibling told the Guyana Chronicle that her brother left their home around 04: 00hrs and while walking along the roadway in front of their neighbour’s home, he was hit by a speeding car.

She said that Haynes, who worked as a clerk at a business establishment on Lombard Street in the city, sustained mainly head

injuries.

The woman said she heard her brother calling out to her and when she peered through her window, she saw him lying on the ground bleeding from his wounds.

He was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he died three hours later.

The police visited the scene and retrieved closed circuit television (CCTV) from a nearby home as they attempt to trace the car’s registration.

Shayne Haynes

Wisdom prevailed

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

–– AG says gov’t acted wisely during confidence vote

–– believes opposition to ‘33 majority’ might have activated other moles on gov’t benches ATTORNEY General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams said it was not government’s place to alert the opposition that it needed 34 votes to successfully pass the no-confidence motion as he holds fast to his position that in the 65-Member National Assembly, 34 constitutes an absolute majority.

In a legal memorandum to be submitted to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, the attorney general argued that there was a miscalculation of the majority of all elected members as required under Article 106(6) of the Constitution for the government to be defeated on a vote of no-confidence.

On Friday, December 21, 2018, the Speaker had announced that the motion was carried with 33 Members of Parliament voting in favour of the motion and 32 against.

But though AFC back bencher Charrandas Persaud defected and voted in favour of the motion to give the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) a simple majority, Williams said the motion is null, void, and of no effect.

“In order for the government to be defeated on a vote of confidence, 34 or more votes of all the elected members in favour of the motion was required instead of 33. This assertion is grounded in established parliamentary precedent and practice and case law in the Commonwealth,” the attorney general stated in the legal memorandum leaked to the Guyana Chronicle.

On Sunday, during a live programme broadcast by the National Communications Network (NCN) and moderated by veteran broadcaster Enrico Woolford, the attorney

general said that if he had interjected during the voting process to bring the House’s attention that 34 votes constitute an absolute majority and not 33, the opposition could have possibly alerted another mole, if there was another compromised person.

“As it is, we are in a beautiful position, because I did not interject,” the attorney general told Woolford. Unsure whether there

According to him, government has managed the situation fairly well.

“As we understood it, there were supposed to be several, and I think that situation was handled adequately, because we are in a position to nullify that vote.”

EXPERIENCE KICKED IN He added: “I certainly acted in accor-

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams and veteran broadcaster Enrico Woolford during the live programme broadcast on NCN were other APNU+AFC MPs compromised, he said government was cautious in treating with the no-confidence motion.

“I was trained to be cautious, and I wasn’t trained to telegraph whatever tactics I propose to deploy in relation to the opposition’s position. It is not my business to alert the opposition that they need to get two of my members in order to win the vote,” he said.

dance with the intelligence that I had and with all the experience [and] instincts acquired over the years, working with three presidents, I believe that we did very well to be in this position, rather than if I had interjected and the count restarted, and the other moles were then activated, we would not have had a position, the vote would have been legally carried.”

In the legal memorandum, the attorney

general pointed to the meaning of a majority, which according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary (1828) is a number greater than half.

“A political principle providing that a majority usually constituted by 50 per cent plus one of an organised group, will have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole” – majority as defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary.

According to the attorney general, the case of Kilman v Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Vanuatu [2011] VUCA 15; Civil Appeal 09 of 2011 (13 May 2011) validates and subscribes to the definition of a majority.

As such, the he is arguing that with the National Assembly comprising 65 members, and mathematically, half of all the elected members would result in a fraction of 32.5, a majority would be 34, because there is no half human being and the number is therefore rounded off to 33. As such, a majority is 33 plus one.

“There are judicial authorities in the Commonwealth to show that where a number results in a fraction, the next highest whole number would represent the majority.

In the instant case as half of 65 results in the fraction of 32.5, that figures should then be rounded to the next whole number being 33 which would now represent half of the elected members. In accordance with practice application of the meaning of majority means that ‘1’ must now be added to ‘33’ to calculate a majority,” he explained.

Government in the legal memorandum will this week ask the Speaker to reverse his ruling.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Bangladesh Senator Graham says Trump PM’s party wins receptive to shutdown deal idea WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said on Sunday that he was optimistic that Republicans, Democrats and President Donald Trump could reach a deal to end a government shutdown that includes border wall funding and legal status for some undocumented immigrants.

Graham told reporters after meeting Trump for lunch at the White House that Trump was receptive to Graham’s idea of a deal that might provide work permits to so-called Dreamers, people brought illegally to the

United States as children, in exchange for money for physical border barriers.

But the senator from South Carolina said there would never be a government spending deal that doesn’t include money for a wall or other physical barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border.

“I don’t see Democrats giving us more money unless they get something. So, the one thing we talked about is making deals,” Graham said.

“After lunch I’ve never been more encouraged that if we can get people talking we can find our way out of this mess, and that would include

Monday, December 31, 2018

around $5 billion for border security, slash wall, slash fencing whatever you want to call it in areas that make sense,” he added.

Graham had earlier floated the idea of giving Democrats a version of stalled legislation to protect undocumented youth from deportation, in exchange for wall funding on CNN’s State of the Union programme.

The Trump administration in 2017 announced plans to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, begun under former president Barack Obama to shield Dreamers from deportation. But Trump’s DACA phase-out has been delayed by court rulings against it.

With the partial government shutdown in its ninth

day on Sunday, some other lawmakers were less upbeat about prospects for a deal to restore spending authority.

Republican Senator Richard Shelby warned on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that negotiations were at an impasse and the shutdown “could last a long, long time.”

Democratic U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries said the country needs comprehensive immigration reform and border security.

“We are not willing to pay $2.5 billion or $5 billion and wasting taxpayer dollars on a ransom note because Donald Trump decided that he was going to shut down the government and hold the American people hostage,” Jeffries said on ABC.

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party has won the national election, the Election Commission said early on Monday, giving her a third straight term in a widely expected result.

The opposition led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has rejected the election and called for fresh polls amid accusations of vote rigging.

Hasina has been hailed domestically for fast economic growth in the past decade and internationally for providing refuge to Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in neighbouring Myanmar.

But her government has been accused of suppressing dissent and jailing critics, including many supporters of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Many journalists say she has intimidated the media by

using vaguely worded laws against them.

“You know what my mother told me this morning? ‘Branded authoritarian by the Western media now is a badge of honor’” her son Sajeeb Wazed, who lives in Washington D.C. and runs an IT business in the United States, said in the prime minister’s official residence in Dhaka.

He said that there was space for dissent in the Muslim-majority country of 165 million people, and that the Western media was unfair in its portrayal of his mother.

Wazed later clarified on Facebook that his mother compared herself to Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia and Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, who he said were both called authoritarian

by Western media when they were leading their nations to development, “yet are considered heroes now.”

13:30hrs. - 15:00hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Venezuela offers help probing alleged planned attack on Colombia’s president CARACAS (Reuters) Venezuela’s government is willing to help investigate a plot to assassinate Colombian President Ivan Duque, in which three Venezuelan nationals arrested in Colombia may be suspects, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said.

The alleged assassination attempt comes amid tense relations between the two neighbouring South American countries. Duque has been a strong critic of the socialist government of Venezuela’s President Nicolas

Maduro, who he calls a “dictator,” and Maduro regularly accuses Duque of plotting to overthrow him.

In a late Saturday night statement, Arreaza said Venezuela was willing to provide “the necessary police and intelligence cooperation” and had asked Colombian authorities for more information on the three Venezuelans arrested.

Earlier on Saturday, Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo had said in a video message that there was intelligence indi-

Colombia’s President Iván Duque

cating “credible” plans to target the right-wing Duque, who took office in August.

Three Venezuelans were arrested in recent days with “weapons of war,” he added.

Colombian authorities are trying to establish any connection between the alleged plan to assassinate Duque and the presence in Colombia of the three armed men.

C o l o m b i a ’s D e f e n c e Minister Guillermo Botero told journalists on Sunday that two of the men - arrested on a bus in the northern

city of Valledupar on Dec. 21 and found carrying two 5.56 caliber rifles - are Jose Vicente Gomez Rios and Pedro Jose Acosta Ovalle, both 22.

A third man arrested days later in coastal Barranquilla was armed with a submachine gun and a grenade, Botero said.

“What’s really worrying it they weren’t just any guns,” Botero said. “The president’s security has been strengthened with intelligence and eventually with some additional measures.”

On Sunday, Arreaza said on Twitter that he was still attempting to get in contact with Trujillo and that Colombian authorities should lose no time in sharing information with Venezuela.

Maduro in September accused the governments of Chile, Colombia and Mexico of helping “terrorists”, who Venezuela said tried to kill him during a drone attack in early August. The three countries rejected the accusation they were linked to the attack.

Lisa Vasciannie hails OAS observer missions JAMAICA OBSERVER - International Relations lecturer at The University of the West Indies, Dr. Lisa Vasciannie has affirmed that Organisation of American States (OAS) observer missions have played a major role in promoting and protecting democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dr. Vasciannie offered the viewpoint at a Forum of Reflection to mark the 70th Anniversary of the OAS. The event was held recently

in the Hall of the Americas, pursuant to resolution CP/ RES 1101 (2160/18), adopted on May 14, 2018.

In her presentation, Dr. Vasciannie noted that the OAS has gradually progressed from the passive support of democracy to the active and highly specialised field of election observation, having observed over 240 elections since its first mission in Costa Rica in 1962.

Dr. Vasciannie noted that the organisation has taken numerous steps and

implemented initiatives to improve the quality of its electoral observer missions.

Specifically, the OAS “has developed a comprehensive and standardised methodology for election observation”, established “an online training programme”, developed an extensive database of all OAS election observer missions since 1962, and “has also established an online portal for the registration of persons who wish to be considered to serve on observation missions.”

Most notably, Dr Vasciannie highlighted the June 2017 General Assembly Resolution to “lift the restrictions that prevent the Regular Fund from being used” to fund electoral observation missions and to report on “the sources of funding” for these missions. She stated that placing election observation firmly on the regular budget of the OAS is a major advancement for the OAS, as it more closely aligns the organisation’s budget with the priorities

and mandate of the regional organisation.

The forum was hosted by the chair of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Carlos Játiva Naranjo, the permanent representative of Ecuador. Other presenters included former secretary general, Senator Jose Miguel Insulza; former assistant secretary general and former Acting Secretary General, Ambassador Luigi R Einaudi; professor of law and dean emeritus, American University Washington College of

Law, Dr Claudio Grossman; and current Secretary General Luis Almagro.

Dr. Vasciannie was also the keynote speaker at the 37th Model OAS Assembly for High School, also held in the Hall of the Americas at the OAS Headquarters.

This was the culmination of a three-day simulation of activities and included students from Belize, Colombia, El Salvador, Peru, Spain and the United States — representing all the OAS Member States.

UK mulls new defence bases in C’bean, Far East after Brexit BERLIN, Germany (AP) — Britain’s defence secretary has said that the country could establish new military bases in the Caribbean and Far East after Britain leaves the European Union (EU).

Gavin Williamson told the Sunday Telegraph the expansion would be part of a strategy for Britain to become a “true global player” after Brexit.

Britain is set to leave the EU in March. “This is our biggest moment as a nation since the end of the Second World War, when we can recast ourselves in a different way, we can actually play the role on the world stage that the world expects us to play,” Williamson said. He did not elaborate.

The defence secretary predicts a strong shift in Britain’s political focus after Brexit, with deeper relationships with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Africa and the Caribbean emphasised.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

New Year Resolutions AS 2018 comes to a close and a new year begins, the popular Guyanese tradition of making new year resolutions is once again in mind. That tradition which is practised by most countries in the western hemisphere may be considered good, since, if one is successful at keeping the resolutions, one is likely to improve some aspect of one’s life.

However, while the person making the resolutions is usually sincere and determined to succeed, the majority of persons fail. This fact is widely known and for this reason many persons just do not make resolutions at all. That is unfortunate.

Fortuitously, scientists have studied the matter and have come to conclusions about why persons fail to keep their resolutions; and those conclusions have resulted in concrete recommendations for helping persons to improve the quality of their lives by succeeding at keeping their new year resolutions.

A new year resolution is the act of resolving to improve an undesirable trait or behaviour, or to accomplish a personal goal or otherwise be a better person for the new year. Some popular ones are: to get in shape, start eating healthier food, stop procrastinating, stop smoking or using

alcohol, learn a new language, strive to be more environmentally responsible, get a better job, spend quality time with family members, be more spiritual, spend less time on social media, become more polite, watch less TV, read more books; the list of self-improvement resolutions is endless.

The tradition of making new year resolutions started centuries ago when the Babylonians made promises to their god to repay debts, and the Romans started each new year with promises to their god Janus.

Over the centuries, the practice evolved and expanded into other societies, including modern cultures. By the 1930s, about a quarter of Americans made new year resolutions; and according to the American Medical Association (AMA), approximately 40 to 50 per cent of Americans regularly participated in the new year resolution tradition by the mid-1990s. While local is not available, the American statistics may be a reliable indicator of general western tendencies, including local trends.

The beginning of a new year may be the best time to make a self-improvement resolution; another study by the AMA found that 46 per cent of participants who made common new year resolutions (e.g. weight loss, exercise programmes, quitting smoking, reducing drinking) were likely

to succeed; a number over 10 times larger than among those deciding to make similar life changes at other times of the year. This is one reason why new year’s resolutions are considered by scientists to be important; and the primary reason why experts have taken an intense interest in the matter.

British psychologist Richard Wiseman has done numerous surveys and studies on the subject of willpower, and is considered the expert on the subject. In 2007, he tracked the success of 3,000 people’s new year resolutions, only to find that a mere 12 percent of them managed to achieve what they had set out to do. The differences between the findings of the AMA and the British expert may be attributable to societal and cultural factors.

In any case, Dr. Wiseman looked into what the successful people were doing differently, and, based on their experiences, devised a list of tips for others who want to stop failing.

Here is the complete list of Wiseman’s advice: 1) If possible, make only one resolution -- changing a lot of things at once is more difficult.

2) Think about your resolutions in advance, and spend some time to reflect on them.

3) Don’t re-visit past failures, but focus on new resolutions instead.

4) Focus on what you really want -don’t just go with what’s trendy.

5) Break your goal into manageable, concrete steps with specific deadlines.

6) Go public -- tell your friends, family, social networks about your goals, which will increase your fear of failure and also garner support.

7) Create a checklist focusing on how much better your life will be once you’ve achieved your goals.

8) Whenever you make progress on the steps towards your goal, give yourself a small reward.

9) Document your journey -- charts, spreadsheets, journals and other means of tracking your progress will keep it concrete.

10) Don’t beat yourself up and quit if you sometimes revert to old habits -- treat it as a temporary setback.

New year resolutions, if successfully implemented, have the potential to improve one’s life: one may stop smoking, start exercising, read more, or, advance in other ways. It is a good tradition; one worth keeping. But it only works if one follows through and actually makes the resolution a reality.

Upside down arithmetic?

Dear Editor, UNTIL Friday, 21 December, 2018, no motion of no-confidence had ever been debated in Guyana’s National Assembly.

The constitution demands a majority of all the 65 MPs to pass such a motion.

The big debate is what is a majority?

There seems to be different majorities for different situations. After the May 2015 elections, the APNU+AFC coalition was

allotted 33 seats as against 32 for the PPP/C. The coalition therefore won by a majority of one seat.

Then, under the rules of the National Assembly, certain motions and bills require for approval a simple majority of members present and voting, even when several members are absent. No one has ever questioned this simple majority.

But to pass a confidence motion, the constitution of Guyana says that there should be a majority of all the elected members of the

National Assembly. This is a special or clear majority.

Some refer to it as an absolute majority.

The vote on the no-confidence motion resulted in 33 for and 32 against.

The question is whether the 33 votes meet the demand under the constitution for a clear majority, and whether it has been calculated under the generally acceptable formula.

A majority under this formula is more than half of the votes plus one. Therefore of the 65 members, one

half would be 32.5. When one is added, it will be 33.5 members.

This is where the problem lies. There is no half member in parliament, so parliaments in other countries would round up the fraction to make 33 as onehalf of the MPs, and then add 1 to make 34 the majority.

Everyone knows that one-half or 50 per cent is not a majority, except Professor Dr. Asquith Rose.

Tearing up the con stitution which limits the

composition of the National Assembly to 65 MPs, he cited as “objective fact” (SN 30.12.18) that we really have 66 MPs. He then divided his invented 66 into half, and got 33. He boasted about “basic arithmetic”, that “50% of 66 is 33”. But from where did he get the 66 seats? Besides, the professor wants us to swallow that 50 per cent equals majority and half equals majority.

He then juxtaposed his fictitious 33 from his manufactured 66 MPs and sized it up against the actual 65 MPs

in the House. Worse yet, like an illusionist, he portrayed 66 as being the same as 65.

He then inserted his 33 into the 65-member House, and concluded that “33 is a larger quantity than 32 and therefore is a majority”.

It would have been so easy to round up the fraction 33.5 into 34 to make a majority, but I guess that Dr. Rose was determined to turn “basic Arithmetic” on its head.

Regards, Troy Douglas

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Linden councillors get down to work ...

From page 2

back South Mackenzie to where it was, what it used to be,” Bethune said.

Bethune is urging other constituency representatives to follow suit and to do their best for their respective communities. “Your office is the community, in the streets, bottom house meetings, prioritise on meeting the people, influence people in the community to work together with you, reach the people, listen to what they want and just be the motivation,” he said.

While it is true that the council does not possess the resources to complete projects in all the constituencies, he said that it is the duty of the councillors to work with the res-

idents to get projects completed. Rather than to sit by and blame the council, he said that projects can be done through self-help efforts, fun-raising activities and pooling of resources. This is the method he has been using and has been seeing success thus far.

One resident applauded Bethune for his hands-on approach and for putting the needs of the residents first.

“We are happy to be working with someone who genuinely cares for his community and is working hard for betterment. So many changes in only weeks.

I think he is doing a very good job,” the resident said.

The drains being cleared in Noitgedacht

Let’s look at this analogy Dear Editor A PATIENT of mine was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He requested a second opinion. I rightfully said, “It’s your right, you don’t need my consent for that.”

Got a second opinion, clinical opinion remained unchanged. He requested a third, fourth and fifth opinion. I repeat my position that it is his right. By the fifth, I sensibly advises him that it may be difficult, but at some point we will need to sit down and discuss the inevitable.

Why would I do this? I do know, that as a doctor my clinical opinion isn’t always right; hence, a patient has a right to have it reviewed, not because he/she may think I’m wrong, but he/she is hoping beyond hope that I’m wrong. As a doctor I would be confident of my decision; therefore, I would have no concern in having it reviewed by my peers. But most importantly, it is the patient’s right, just like a convicted murderer is entitled to a second legal review, so does the patient.

Let’s bring this closer to home, the confidence motion. The President and prime minister accepted the vote in Parliament.

Sent invitation to meet Mr. Jagdeo and plan

for elections in 90 days, but then new information arose. What were they to do? Ignore the new information?

They chose to get a second opinion from the Speaker, Dr. Scotland. They are suggesting court action. What’s wrong with that decision? Mr. Jagdeo’s argument is that they are using delaying tactics. If that is true, why had they accepted the decision in the first place? They would have been delaying from the outset, I think. Why are the Western leaders, whom Jagdeo harshly criticised when he was in power and even during this present government’s reign where he suggested that those Western leaders should stay out of Guyana’s politics, remain silent?

The fact is that the government’s position only changed after they were provided with new information. Legal minds are expressing their opinions. They have a right to. The Bar Association wakes up after being cremated and buried for many years.

Their President, Mr. Kamal Ramkarran, the younger son of a former PPP member for over 50 years, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, suggested that the government should respect the decision of Parliament.

Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, in his column on 26th November, 2018, argued that 34

votes are needed for the confidence motion to pass. Now a month after, changes his position. Now saying he had misspoken. I have serious concerns with that. How do we know you are not misspeaking now? I’m no lawyer, but I do know if an expert witness is to misspeak in a court of law then his/ her credibility would be brought into question and the opposing lawyer would destroy him/ her legally. I know some may argue that he did not express his opinion in a court of law. That’s irrelevant. He expressed his opinion on the most important legal crisis facing post-independent Guyana. If we are to believe him, he got it completely wrong.

Also, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, your credibility has been brought into question for taking nearly a month to realise that you had misspoken. I would assume you would do research before you write your articles. I would assume you review your articles before they are submitted. I would assume you would re-read them after they have been submitted, checking for publishing errors.

You were erroneous on a very critical legal issue; hence, any further opinions offered on this matter would be rightfully questioned.

The fact that you have now, after nearly a month, realised that you have misspoken on

such a critical legal issue would demote you to the rank of spectator. You should remain silent and stick to writing your weekly columns, while more alert legal minds debate this issue.

Now, Mr. Jagdeo. The government is entitled to exercise their right, just like my hypothetical patient who requested many opinions. I’m no politician, but what I do know, if the Speaker is asked to offer an opinion (second opinion), followed by a constitutional court offering a legal opinion (third opinion) and finally the CCJ to offer a legal opinion (fourth opinion) and if the government after utilising all those legal avenues fails, then Mr. Jagdeo will gain lots of political mileage unless of course, he has something to hide and government is on to something.

I have my opinion. I’m no lawyer, so I’ll take the position of the Bar Association during the 23 years of the murderous PPP reign, mute.

Regards Dr. Mark Devonish MBBS MSc MRCP (UK) FRCP (Edin) Consultant Acute Medicine Nottingham University Hospital UK

More about escaping the heavy hand of justice Dear Editor, MORE about escaping the heavy hand of justice. These are exciting times and interesting too, for what is now being fully revealed, following the motion of a no- confidence brought against the government.

Beginning with the PPP/C, it constituted their most desperate effort to remove the coalition A Partnership for Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government from office. And this must be seen against the background of the many court cases involving many of its former top brass and party supporters. It was imperative that a way be found to thwart the possible convictions of this criminal lot.

For the political opposition would have reasoned that the removal of the coalition

government would lead to very early elections, and its possible defeat. Thus, given what have been their baseless shouts of “witch hunting”, which means not accepting both the auditors’ numerous reports with their findings, subsequent police investigations, coupled with legal advice that mandated court action, it is quite plain what a PPP/C government would do – order the discontinuation of all the matters that both SOCU and SARA have initiated, with some already sent to court, and others being ready for similar action.

In the instance of the Pradoville Two matter, those of its party members, obviously on the basis of legal advice, are reported to be settling their individual matters with the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA). This is evidence that indeed they had committed

offences, and therefore had a case to answer.

Of course, there are reported plans to prosecute the entire Cabinet with regard to the wider Pradoville Two matter, in terms of the collective being held responsible for decisions surrounding execution of the project.

Most importantly, is the fact that two of the PPP/C’s front runners for the latter party’s presidential nomination, are before the courts on criminal charges. A court conviction for either of them, would, in accordance with the constitution, render both ineligible.

And one must add the oil factor that is driving the entire leadership cabal of the PPP/C, and some known public figures, loony. Guyana has never seen such desperation in its entire modern political history.

Editor, just think about the blow to

social morality and the grievous injuries that it would inflict on the national psyche should such a scenario, as envisaged by the PPP/C, occur. For the latter, it would represent thwarting the course of justice for those of its former government who pillaged the nation’s assets; but for the citizens, especially the young, it would accrue to sending contradictory messages about those who commit serious acts against the State. The no-confidence vote was more about the PPP/C desperately seeking to escape the heavy hand of justice, rather than about the government’s performance since coming to office.

Regards, Dillon Goring

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Gov’t to lay confidence vote case before Speaker

THE A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government will soon present its case before the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, on the controversial no-confidence vote.

The government made the announcement on Sunday, saying that it will soon submit a brief to the Speaker. Based on a leaked legal memorandum seen by Guyana Chronicle, the government is analysing six critical issues and will ask the Speaker to revise his decision primarily on the basis that 34 votes constitute a majority in this particular case and not 33.

Dr. Scotland, following the vote, had announced that the National Assembly will convene on January 3, 2019, to deal with the “consequences” of the vote, and it is within this realm that government will put forward its case.

In a statement on Sunday, the coalition government said it respects the guidance of the Speaker and the integrity of the process.

“In the interest of the preservation of our de-

mocracy, even in challenging circumstances, such as presently encountered, all members of the National Assembly are duty bound to adhere to the direction of the Speaker,” the David Granger-led administration said.

The government said it has taken careful note of statements and comments which seek to sway the public’s mind away from the direction of the Speaker’s announcement with the intention of creating unease, mischief and discord.

NOT HELPFUL “The coalition government believes that these statements are not helpful in the present situation because there are forces at play who are seeking to subvert and railroad the democratic process.

“As such, the coalition government alerts the Guyanese people that it is aware of these attempts to circumvent the democratic process and that all attempts would be made to resist the distortion of the Speaker’s announcement,” it said.

During the last sitting of the National Assem-

bly after government MP Charrandas Persaud crossed the floor to vote in favour of the Opposition- sponsored motion, the Speaker in his closing remarks said: “There is more to be done in relation to it, and in the coming weeks, if not days, that will be known and appreciated.

When we gather again we will be refreshed and energised to continue the work which will be set before us.”

Amid claims of breach of Constitution, the coalition government reaffirmed that it remains singularly committed to the rule of law and the safety and wellbeing of all Guyanese. It said it will continue to act in the best interest of all Guyanese.

“Thorough efforts have been made to ensure a safe and peaceful holiday season and this has been achieved thus far despite attempts by the Opposition to create uncertainty and instability,” it said.

The Opposition Leader, the mover of the motion, has called for the government to step down, but on Sunday the government made it clear that until and unless fresh

elections are held, it will remain in full control of the governance apparatus of the State and will continue to carry out its mandate according to its constitutional requirement.

It said any suggestion to the contrary is intended to breed anarchy and disorder in Guyana and that too will be resisted.

HAVE FAITH IN GOV’T “The coalition government calls on all right-thinking Guyanese to continue to maintain faith in government and reject subversive attempts to create confusion and uncertainty for political motives.”

In the legal memorandum, which will be handed to the Speaker for his consideration, the government singled out Article 106(6) of the Constitution, which outlines the requirements if a government is to be defeated on a vote of no-confidence.

Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: The Cabinet, including the President, shall resign if the government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National

Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

It was noted, in the legal memorandum, that the constitutional requirement for voting on a motion of no-confidence is distinct from voting on the passage of legislation and ordinary motions.

In the case of a no-confidence motion, an absolute majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly is required.

“The passage of legislation and motions outside of article 106 (6) procedurally only requires a vote of those members present and voting. By way of example, Article 168 of the Constitution deals with voting on motions generally and provides that ‘Save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, all questions proposed for decision in the National Assembly shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting.’

“Therefore, it is clear that the intention of Article 106 (6) is that there must be a majority of ‘all the elected members of the National Assembly’ as a vote of confidence falls outside the ambit of article 168,” the Attorney

General explained in the brief.

Pointing to the Merriam Webster Dictionary (1828), he said ‘majority’ is legally defined as a number greater than half.

With the National Assembly having 65 members, mathematically, half of all the elected members would result in a fraction of 32.5, the Attorney General said.

“There are judicial authorities in the Commonwealth to show that where a number results in a fraction, the next highest whole number would represent the majority. In the instant case as half of 65 results in the fraction of 32.5, that figure should then be rounded to the next whole number being 33 which would now represent half of the elected members. In accordance with practice, application of the meaning of majority means that ‘1’ must now be added to ‘33’ to calculate a majority,” he explained.

The government believes that if the Speaker erred in his ruling, that error can be revisited and corrected by him without the aid of Parliamentary process, once he recognises his constitutional mishap.

PM Nagamootoo pays tribute to late Vibert De Souza IT is with sadness that I learned about the death of former Minister Vibert De Souza.

We became friends since the mid-70s when he was introduced to me by the late Captain Fazal Khan. At the time he was, together with his brothers Marco and Dion, a talented guitarist/singer.

I joined his creole group for a while.

In 1995, he served

with me as junior minister within the Ministry of Local Government, which held the portfolio of Amerindian Affairs for which he was responsible.

Years later, he became an AFC member.

Vibert was a cultural icon, an advocate for the rights of our First Peoples and foremost a proud Moruca boy.

I have only good memories of my late

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo comrade and friend, and send deepest sympathies to his wife Rita, their children and the rest of the De Souza family.

(DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Cops closing in on Charrandas – Min. Ramjattan hints at major probe into alleged corrupt transaction was it wrong to support the no-confidence motion against the government?” he asked in a video he posted on his Facebook page.

The government was completely blindsided by Persaud’s vote, particularly since he had only days before sang praises of the government as he voted for passage of the budget.

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

PUBLIC Security Minister and Vice-President Khemraj Ramjattan said the police are investigating and closing in on the case of bribery of former government Member of Parliament (MP) Charrandas Persaud to support a motion against his government.

“We are now learning that there is absolutely a connection with bribery, of some big sum of money… money which I understand he had wanted to transfer overseas and all of that,” Ramjattan declared on a National Communications Network (NCN) show, Context, on Sunday.

Speaking to host Enrico Woolford, Ramjattan said the evidence is being gathered to show that Persaud was not only compromised, but that there are members of the People’s Progressive Party

(PPP) who were fully aware of this when they brought the confidence motion against the government.

“We are having it [evidence] because he has spoken to people,” replied Ramjattan, when asked if there was evidence to support the claim that Persaud was bribed.

“It is clearly a case where he is compromised and obviously those who moved the motion, or at least one person who moved the motion, knew about this. They knew that they had Charrandas in the bag. Now that is not the kind of democratic process we want for this country. You had to know you had somebody in the bag.”

The APNU+AFC government has a one-seat simple majority in Parliament, accounting for 33 of the 65 MPs. Despite having only 32

members, the opposition PPP tabled a confidence motion against the government last month. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at a press conference shortly before the motion was debated noted his optimism that at least one government MP would vote for the motion.

Persaud defected from the government during the voting process and supported the passage of the motion. It has since been alleged that Persaud was bribed to vote against the government.

These allegations were further fuelled when photographs surfaced of Persaud being escorted out of Parliament by PPP supporter Peter Ramsaroop after his vote.

Later, Persuad himself questioned why it would be wrong if he was paid. “… even if I was paid,

BEAUTIFULLY ORGANISED “This thing was organised beautifully. All that will come out of the investigation going on because Guyanese don’t want that kind of politics in Guyana anymore,” Ramjattan noted.

“We are going to go very far and deep into it and those who would’ve done that they will pay the penalty. We’ve already been doing investigations with the senior members of the government. Very valid investigations, you don’t have to say we are politically motivated, we are not. The President, the prime minister, the entire Cabinet want genuine political practice and what we saw there is absolute [sic] ridiculous.”

Only recently at a function in Canada Persaud hinted at supporting the PPP. “The next question has to do is that how we must do our democratic practices? Should we pay somebody off and then cover it up with a conscience. He always criticised how the PPP government is the one that bring the sugar industry down. He was doing that long before [he joined the

government, that is why we were attracted and appealed to [him to] come on board with us. He was genuinely constructive and saying that the PPP is the bad one,” Ramjattan noted.

The validity of the no-confidence motion, as well as the legality of Persaud’s vote is now being questioned. It is being argued that the opposition in fact needed 34 votes for the motion to be passed.

Charandas Persaud

MISCALCULATION Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams submitted that there was a miscalculation of the majority of all elected members as required under Article 106(6) of the constitution for the government to be defeated on a vote of no-confidence.

“In order for the government to be defeated on a vote of confidence, 34 or more votes of all the elected mem-

bers in favour of the motion was required instead of 33.

This assertion is grounded in established parliamentary precedent and practice and case law in the Commonwealth,” Williams said in a report to Cabinet.

Ramjattan said this avenue is being challenged to bring clarity to the issue and to ensure democracy.

“It is important that people just do not follow through with what is regarded as a simplicity. This addresses this question, that must deal with the context of the interpretation,” Ramjattan said, noting it is not about delaying the motion, but ensuring democracy prevails. “It is not delaying, it is about having clarity and that is how democracy is developed. If it were now to happen in 2020 or 2025, people will learn and say it has a ruling. We are preparing fertile ground for the education for what happens in a scenario like this, so the mistake is not made. And the final ruling and we will abide by that.”

Another argument is the legitimacy of Persaud as a Member Parliament, given that he holds a passport and possessed the rights and obligations as a citizen of Canada.

According to Article 155 (1) (a) of the constitution, “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who is by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.”

Man reportedly wanted for Canada murder executed in Queenstown FOLLOWING the alleged execution of a 37-year-old man in Queenstown on Sunday morning, police detectives in Georgetown along with those from the Major Crimes Unit up to late last evening were trying to locate a vehicle which reportedly transported the killers.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the police are also working on the notion that there might have been someone who was monitoring the man’s movements and

informed the occupants of the vehicle, who then moved to the location and executed the man.

In a statement to the press, the Guyana Police Force said that 37-year-old Sean Allister Greene, who resides between Alberttown and Corentyne, Berbice, was standing outside a hotel in Queenstown when he was shot by the occupants of the car.

The police said the shooting took place sometime around 04:00hrs on Sunday morning on

Forshaw Street, Queenstown.

Greene and some other persons were reportedly standing outside when the car rolled up and the persons opened fire in the direction of the now dead man. There were no reports of any of the others being struck by the bullets.

The man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, after the shooting, it was reported that the deceased

might have been wanted for the murder of a man in Parkdale, Toronto, Canada.

In a media report out of that country, it was said that Greene and the man might have had an argument which turned into a fight and the man was flung over a railing.

Canadian police said the incident took place on September 8, 2018 and the deceased in that matter was identified as 24-yearold Chad Day. According to reports out of

Canada, sometime around 11.30 pm on the date in question, the police were called to a building on West Lodge Avenue near Lansdowne Avenue and Queen Street West. They found a man lying in the front driveway with serious injuries and he was pronounced dead.

Police late Sunday night said they have arrested a suspect identified as Winston “Quarters” Wade, 26, of 59 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice in connection with the shooting.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Noel Fernandes drives away with BMW X1

A COMBINATION of excitement, suspense and anticipation filled the atmosphere on Friday at the Stabroek Market Square, Georgetown as four finalists of GTT’s Christmas promotion competed against each other for a grand prize, a BMW X1.

The prize was presented with one-year free insurance for one year and one year of free Super 95 gas from GuyOil. Families and supporters of the four finalists flooded the location to back their favourite contestant.

According to a GTT press statement, with voting being the first leg of the competition, Shameer Rahamut, Shinella Charles, Noel Fer-

nandes and Sean Charles all battled through several challenges in the second leg of the competition to win the grand prize.

The second leg comprised of cake eating, dunk that junk, balloon blow up, question and answers on GTT’s Plus Sized promotion and a sing-off battle.

Quadrupling his competitors’ votes with help from the public was Enterprise Gardens, Noel Fernandes. He also scored ample points in the obstacle challenges which led to him emerging as the winner of GTT’s BMW X1.

After being announced the winner of the BMW X1, Fernandes in full excitement mode said he was elated to be the victor of the competition.

“I feel very deserving.

I placed my best foot forward and this is the reward I am reaping now. I am just thankful to GTT for affording me such an opportunity and I promise to take good care of the vehicle and drive responsibly,” said an overjoyed Fernandes, before he drove off in his new BMW X1 with his wife and son.

Fernandes was not the only person to leave happy, as everyone who competed in the “Do More” competition won.

Copping the second prize of $150,000 was Charles from Agricola. He was well supported by his five children and wife. He expressed gratitude to GTT and his supporters.

Shinella Charles receives her cheque from GTT officials

Noel Fernandes with his new BMW X1 Stealing the crowd’s heart was Shinella Charles who placed third and took away $100,000 and followed

by Shameer Rahamut, who walked away with $50,000.

The finalists were scored by esteemed judges including Media Personality, Gordon Moseley; GTT’s Brand Ambassadors Poonam Singh and Drew Thooven; and GTT’s Director of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Devi Sukdeo.

External Auditors from TSD Lal and Co-Chartered Accountants were also on the scene to ensure impartiality

in the judging process.

Senior Marketing Executive at GTT and Event Coordinator, Tashandra Inniss said the competition has been one of the most successful events coming out of GTT. “We have managed to meet our targets while still supporting our customers.

We are extremely happy about the outcome and we cannot wait for the next big thing,” said Inniss.

Partnering with GTT on the promotion was GuyOil which will provide over oneyear free supply of the Super 95 gas to the winner of the

BMW X1.

Marketing and Sales Manager at GuyOil Jacqueline James said the aim of the partnership was to make the winner’s life relaxed for one year.

“GuyOil is always about giving back to its customers, not only its corporate customers but our residential customers as well. We look forward to doing more joint partnerships with GTT in the future,” she said.

GTT aims to do more by giving back to its customers in the New Year with more exciting promotions.

Young musicians impress with their talent

By Anthony Layne TWENTY-FIVE young, up-and-coming musicians seized the opportunity to showcase their talent and skills when the Clemsville Music Conservatory recently held its 2018 recital at the National Cultural Centre.

Performances were done in several categories: violin, piano, clarinet, saxophone, and trumpet. Top student in the piano category

was 15-year-old Angelique Leonor Forero, who attained the highest score nationwide. In an invited comment to the Guyana Chronicle, the School of the Nations Fourth Form student said she loves music with a passion; her burning ambition, she added, is to become a professional musician and put Guyana on the world map through music, the way Jamaica’s musicians have made Jamaica internationally famous through reggae. Asked how she intends to achieve this, she said through a The nation’s top student for 2018 in the piano category, Angelique Leonor Forero (right), receives her awards from former U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Mr Perry Holloway and Country Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank, Ms Sophie Makonnen, when the Clemsville Music Conservatory recently held its annual recital at the National Cultural Centre

Judah Scotland, top violin student for 2017, showcases his skill on the instrument

fusion of different elements of local music to create a unique Guyanese genre. Did she find it difficult balancing school work with music lessons? “Yes,” she replied, “but my passion for music saw me through.”

Judah Scotland, age 14, the 2017 top student in the violin category, also spoke with the Chronicle. A Fourth Form student of Saint Stanislaus College, Judah also plays the piano, which he started playing before also taking up the violin after about two years.

Asked about his preferred genres, Judah said he likes mainly gospel , but appreciates calypso, reggae and soca as well.

The budding musicians were all successful at examinations of the Associated

Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), which is based in the United Kingdom. The ABRSM is an examinations board and registered charity, which was established in 1889. More than 600,000 candidates take ABRSM exams each year in over 93 countries.

The event was graced by the presence of former U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Mr Perry Holloway; Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Guyana,Ambassador Jernej Videtic; Country Representative for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ms Sophie Makonnen; and former Mayor of Georgetown, Mr Hamilton Green

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Bourda Market vendors robbed Friday night

VENDORS at the Azeez Grocery Store located at Bourda Market, were robbed of some $300,000 cash and valuables on Friday night.

Vendor Zabida Khan recounted the ordeal to this newspaper. According to

her, at about 21:30 hrs on Friday, she and a worker were attacked and robbed by a male who was armed with a gun.

“The person came in like a customer and first kicked my worker and robbed him [of his jewel-

lery] and then he came up to me inside and started to ask for money,” Khan related.

The woman added that when the bandit found the store’s stash of money, he threatened her at gunpoint to remain quiet, as he exit-

Khan, her family member and her young son inside the stall where the robbery took place on Friday night.

ed the stall and escaped on a red and black motorcycle which had no license plate.

Additionally, she shared that her almost two-yea-old son was with her as the robbery was executed.

Along with the approximately $300,000 the bandit took from the stall, he relieved her worker of mobile phone, her wedding band and a ring. He also took a stack of cellphone credit cards.

Khan indicated that she first reported the incident to the police constable stationed at Bourda Market, a mere 15 minutes after the incident occurred. The constable referred her to the Alberttown Police Station. The woman said that although she spoke with officers at the station, no action has been taken.

“I just want action,” she said helplessly and almost in tears. “I don’t know what else to do; I

Zabida Khan recounting the robbery alongside a family member am traumatised and I was scared for my life.”

Fearful of another robbery, the woman said that she and other family members have been staying at the stall 24 hours-even sleeping on the cold, tiled

floor. The stall has been operated by the family for more than 20 years.

The family indicated that they are willing to drop the matter if their money and items are returned to them.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Elderly persons feted at Dharm Shala

A NUMBER of elderly persons were feted at the Dharm Shala, at the organisation’s annual Christmas Day luncheon.

The elderly persons who reside at the Dharm Shala, Guyana’s longest existing humanitarian charity, were treated to lunch and gifts as they interacted with Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, on Christmas Day. The organisation focuses on housing the poor

Minister Bulkan serves lunch to an elderly man

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan serving an elderly woman at the Dharm Sala Christmas Day luncheon

More elderly folk being served at the luncheon (Photos by Cullen- Bess Nelson)

while providing religious, medical and educational facilities for them.

At the Christmas luncheon homage was also paid to the late director of the Dharm Shala, Harry Ramsaroop.

“It must be remembered that this building in which we are all assembled today, and all other 10 Dharm Shala buildings were constructed between 1952 and 1960 due to the commitment and hard work of [Harry Ramsaroop],”

Vice-President of the organisation Pamela Ramsaroop highlighted.

The woman also affirmed that the late Ramsaroop would have served the less fortunate in the Guyanese society for 63 years-until his death in 2013.

“He will always be remembered with reverence, appreciation and gratitude for his commitment to the betterment of life for the unfortunate [persons] of the Guyanese society,” she related.

Ramsaroop’s mantle of service has now been undertaken by his eldest daughter Kella Ramsaroop, who functions as the managing head of the organisation.

According to Pamela, “[Kella] is the livewire of this great charitable work now nearing 100 years old. Kella is absolutely committed to the continuance of the work, she is dedicated and steadfast, and works tirelessly towards its success.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

To demand resignation of gov’t is to court anarchy STRICT constitutional adherence must guide the nation in the post no-confidence motion period, said the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC).

According to a press statement from the GTUC, in the event that elections are not held within the stipulated three-month period following passage of the no-confidence motion, the constitution dictates a course of action.

The action dictated by Article 106(7) will require “…resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine,” the trade union body said.

The GTUC said the Guyana Constitution makes no reference to a “caretaker government,” suggesting that government will continue to function until the stipulated election is held within three months or beyond, as per a two-thirds vote in the Na-

tional Assembly, dictated by Article 106 (7).

The motion, which was tabled by the parliamentary opposition and passed in the National Assembly, has stirred rhetoric from all sections of society.

“The GTUC calls for the toning down of the rhetoric and for sobriety and wisdom to inform the discourse as to how the nation proceeds at this crucial juncture of our history,” said the congress.

As a first for the country, though constitutionally enshrined, Guyana is “chartering [sic]new waters” unfamiliar to both the government and the opposition, whom it is evident are both ‘challenged’ in navigating same to preserve the national good and maintain stability.

PAINS “The GTUC believes that the challenges of this period must only serve to remind Guyanese of the growing

“pains of democracy”.

“As the nation passes through this current period, we as a people must come out stronger from the experience and the working-class, observers and the international community must feel confidence that the process has factored in the safety, well-being and future of our entire society. The common good, the national interest, must take precedence over any partisan political gain,” said the congress.

The Guyana Constitution, Article 106 (6) and (7) specifically addresses the motion, resignation of a government and elections.

According to the GTUC, those clauses are conjoined and cannot be dealt with separately. While Article 106 (6) states, “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members in the National Assembly on

a vote of confidence,” the following Article 106 (7), which can be considered the defining clause, advises how to proceed after the vote.

Article 106 (7) expressly states that, “Notwithstanding its defeat, the government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

MEET and TALK The GTUC believes that Article 106 (6) and (7) though allowing for a confidence motion against a sitting government, does not dictate for society to function without a government in the interim.

“To demand otherwise is

– GTUC urges toning down of rhetoric to court anarchy and to operate not in our best national interest. Both government and opposition have a responsibility to maintain order and safeguard our nation’s stability and peace. It is not a period of showmanship and ‘digging down’ for the political forces still have to meet, talk and work together,” said the congress. The elected executive is responsible for the dayto-day administration of the state. Implicit in the extant clauses is that government and Parliament will continue to operate, because both are tasked activities to ensure the smooth functioning of society.

In the specific confidence case, provision is made for elections to be held within or after three months and that the “…government shall remain in office...” until such time “…the President takes the oath of office following the election” (Article 106 (7).

The nation has been ad-

vised that on President David Granger’s return from Cuba in the new week, he will meet with Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo.

GTUC urges, given what is at stake, it is imperative that other stakeholders of the coalition government, namely partners in A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) be part of the initial meeting.

Subsequent engagement/ meetings must be expanded to see the involvement of other stakeholders in civil society. The congress said the process should include the trade union movement, private sector, and religious representatives.

“We must strive to further avoid fracturing or jeopardising our commitment to social cohesion and as our national motto states, One People, One Nation, One Destiny,” said the GTUC.

Solution for financially ‘Tall drinks’, lavish feasts – made possible by humble stressed employees

Athalyah Yisrael

ATHALYAH Yisrael, a young Guyanese woman said her personal experiences have driven her to come up with a solution to financial stresses of an individual and is on a journey to share it with her fellow Guyanese.

Sharing her story with Guyana Chronicle, Yisrael said she would often find herself in debts from either investments going bad or failure to save, just to name a few, and her husband will often have to bail her out of her dilemmas.

She soon came to the realisation that she has to put a stop to it and she did some research. From her research, she came up with a strategy that has kept her out of debt and given her financial freedom since she has been making use of it.

Since she realised how successful her idea was, she created a company called ‘Outliers Zone’ whose motto is ‘Building a legacy of wealth, breaking the cycle of

generational hardship.’

Outliers Zone, she said, is dedicated to providing companies and individuals with financial wellness training. This training, she said, is conducted through one-on-one sessions as well as group sessions.

Yisrael said according to a research conducted by her team with over 300 employees in Guyana within the private and public sector, approximately 75 per cent of them are living from paycheck to paycheck and struggle each month to cover bills and save for a better life.

Outliers helps employees to overcome their money problems.

“A financially stressed employee can be a hazard to an organisation, customers and overall profitability. Our research has proven that financial stress can impact your workforce in negative ways by reducing worker productivity and increasing absenteeism. Take for example, team members who are living paycheck to paycheck spend most of their time at work, preoccupied worrying about their bills and cannot give 100 per cent attention to their work,” Yisrael said.

So her aim is to combat the aforementioned.

In her success stories, Yisrael’s company was endorsed and recommended by the Clerk of the National Assembly who engaged the staff members of the Parliament office of Guyana in her financial stability sessions. She was also highly recommended by Dr. Rosh Khan, who enrolled his staff at Social rank into her sessions as well.

Yisrael can be contacted on +592 623 4386.

vendors during festive season

By Gabriella Chapman AS we prepare to usher in the new year, most Guyanese homes celebrate/observe the festive season with lavish meals and tall drinks. We take time to acknowledge and appreciate those families and individuals who sacrifice their celebration time to make available the resources needed for the grand celebration.

The Guyana Chronicle took a holiday stroll through Robb Street, Georgetown, which is a 24hour market. This stroll was to get an understanding of how vendors go about their livelihoods during the jolly time of the year.

Most vendors shared that their ‘livelihoods’ are made possible because they work 24/7.

“This is our way of survival and being able to provide for our families, so we have to make the sacrifice to ensure that we are able to see another day,” one woman said.

Another vendor said that providing foodstuff for the people of Guyana is all he knows to do.

“This I been doing since I was small, with my parents. I been doing this all my life; just like my father was, I am a farmer and I enjoy coming out here every day to provide for other families.

And while I am providing for other families, my family is being provided for as well,” he said.

Noting that it is tough sometimes, but the fact that the ultimate goal is to be able to provide for their families, the strength comes every day to carry out their tasks.

Trevor Fredericks, who took a break from his busy day to talk to us, said he has been selling at the Bourda Market square for the past 15 years.

Like the other vendors, he said selling is his family’s only source of income, so the sacrifice has to be made to make ends meet.

Trevor Fredericks and his two children

Fredericks, however, said that he makes it work for his family since they all would come out at the stall to support him. “The burden is not on me alone, my wife and my children come out here and we all work together to create our livelihood,” he said.

He said it is hard to take a day off, because it is hard to determine when would be a good day to stay away from work. So he and his wife would take turns in holding the stall while the other one rests. And the children would assist as well.

“This is a norm for us and we have been doing it for years. My family is happy out here with me, so even though we can’t be at home sharing the pepperpot and the bread, we are here together as a family to provide what the other families need.

And we are happy with that,” the man said.

His daughter and son who were there at that time, looked very happy as they helped their father to pack the fruits and vegetables. The bold little girl said she and her brother are satisfied with what their parents provide.

Other vendors were quite busy with the rush, but based on observations, it would appear that the joy of Christmas for them, is being flocked everyday with customers to support their livelihoods.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Businesses using ‘junkies’ to dump garbage on city streets

A NUMBER of store owners and vendors in Georgetown’s central business district are not in possession of garbage receptacles as the laws governing the City Council require, and have been using ‘social rejects’ to dispose of their refuse.

This results in a piling up of garbage on several city streets, a number of health hazards, and a real eye sore to anyone, citizen or foreigner, who appreciates clean and beautiful surroundings.

Head of the Solid Waste Department attached to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Mr. Walter Narine, told the Guyana Chronicle on Saturday that the commercial areas are cleared of garbage twice per day. “They’re cleared once in the morning, and then again at 6pm,” he

Solid Waste Management Director Walter Narine assured.

However, the piling up of garbage has again become a problem because some store owners who do not have

waste receptacles on their business premises are paying the ‘junkies’ next to nothing to dispose of their garbage.

Narine said he has had cause to place a dumpster on Water Street Saturday morning to deter vendors from having their garbage dumped on the streets.

“I placed a bin on Water Street, in the vicinity of Bounty Supermarket, because of the dumping of garbage in Water Street. I spoke to all of the vendors around the area before placing the bin there, and they were all very happy and agreed that it will help a lot,” Narine disclosed.

This morning, Narine said, the plan is to place a similar bin in front of Hacks Halal Restaurant on Commerce Street.

Garbage dumped by businesses in Water Street last Wednesday Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer Yonette Smith had explained to this publication some of the implications that wanton dumping has on the City.

Apart from the unsightliness that the practice creates, Smith spoke about leachate, which is a toxic liquid that emanates from the garbage and can consequently contaminate the groundwater

supply of residents and businesses.

“When the garbage trucks pick up your garbage, you would notice there’s a liquid that comes out of it that we call leachate. It’s a toxic substance that is left in the ground when persons dump garbage and it can contaminate our water supply,” she expressed.

Furthermore, the site be-

The dumpster that was placed in the vicinity of Bounty Supermarket on Water Street on Saturday

comes an ideal environment for insects and rodents. “We ask persons not to dump their garbage like this, because apart from polluting the ground water, there are insects and rodents that can end up in your home and they also can get persons sick.”

Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis had said during the same interview with Smith that after a time, rodents tend to migrate from the garbage piles and begin invading the homes and businesses of residents.

“Rats spread leptospirosis and they urinate on your stuff. You also have reptiles… which can crawl out at nights looking for food and can harm persons passing by,” Lewis further pointed out.

The current fine is $10,000 for someone caught littering, but only a handful is being charged because Lewis had said that the Constabulary Department is short of staff. “Why more persons are not being charged goes back to manpower.”

Hence, Lewis said the City Council should be looking to reinstitute the anti-littering campaign which it conducted some time ago.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

The science of healthy eating DIETS vary greatly from place to place based on food availability, eating habits and culture. Yet, when it comes to food, there is a lot that we know about what is and what is not good for us; and this is true no matter where we live. Societal changes, however, are making these choices more complicated. While many countries are still dealing with undernutrition, more and more people around the world are eating energy-dense, high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt foods. Urbanisation, more sedentary types of work and changing modes of transportation are decreasing people’s levels of physical activity, creating entire populations at risk of obesity, overweight and related diseases.

Worldwide, obesity has nearly tripled since 1975 and with it the increase of health-related problems such as diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. This trend is not confined to high-income countries. In fact, in low and middle-income countries, the number of overweight and obese people is on the rise

at an even faster rate. At the same time in many cases, low and middle-income countries also have to deal with high rates of stunting, wasting and micronutrient deficiencies.

At a time when obesity is on the rise, dietary guidelines are that much more important.

Based on the latest available evidence, guidelines are a country’s recommendations to its population for eating better and being healthier.

The FAO’s website contains the most comprehensive compilation of dietary guidelines worldwide. More than 100 countries have developed dietary guidelines that are adapted to local food situations and populations.

Although the guidelines and food guides may vary in terms of structure and format (from booklets to posters and videos, from the popular food pyramid and South Korea’s roly-poly to Fiji’s pineapple and Guyana’s stew pot), the content has a lot of common advice.

Seven eating habits that we know are good for us: 1. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits – Some countries are very specific about the

Most countries’ guidelines recommend that people have at least 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. For a sweet tooth, fruit is a good alternative to processed sugars.

number of servings of fruits and vegetables that we should consume daily; for example, Greece says six, Costa Rica and Iceland say five. Canada even specifies the colours of vegetables to consume (one dark green and one orange vegetable a day). Serving sizes can vary by country; however, all guidelines recommend eating plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits on a daily basis.

2. Watch your intake of fats – Said in different ways, most guidelines make mention of reducing solid, saturated fats and give rec-

ommendations for replacing animal fats with vegetable oils. In Greece, olive oil is recommended, in Viet Nam it is sesame or peanut oil – demonstrating the importance of availability and cultural preference in each country’s guidelines.

3. Cut back on foods and beverages high in sugar – It is generally agreed upon that processed sugar is harmful to our health. The guidelines in every country recommend the maintainance of a low-sugar diet and to choose fruits over processed sweets or sugary beverages to satisfy a sweet

tooth.

4. Reduce sodium/salt – Nigeria mentions reducing the use of bouillon cubes; Malta specifies limiting ready-made foods high in sodium. Colombia on the other hand, suggests limiting processed meats, canned foods and packaged products that usually have high salt content. Across all countries, the general agreement is that diets with less salt are better for you.

5. Drink water regularly –Across the board, the guidelines recommend that water is the best thirst-quencher.

Of course, we should always first make sure that the water is safe for drinking.

6. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation– If you do choose to drink alcohol, whether that is beer, wine or spirits, the general consensus is that it should be done in moderation.

7. Make physical activity part of your day, every day – For people who have more sedentary jobs or lifestyles, the broad recommendation is to get at least 30 minutes of daily exercise. However, Benin’s guidelines point out

that for people with jobs that require hard physical labour, additional exercise is not of top importance.

Various guidelines offer other good advice about healthy eating: enjoy your food (Romania), eat with your family (Venezuela), keep traditional diets alive (Benin), protect the environment (Qatar), share meals (Costa Rica) and do not overcook meals (Germany). Brazil proposed an alternative way of grouping foods by levels of processing and recommends avoiding ultra-processed foods. Some of these guidelines also highlight that we need to protect our natural resources and nature’s biodiversity, while also ensuring food and nutrition security for all people.

FAO supports countries in the development, revision and implementation of their dietary guidelines. Serving as a basis for nutrition policies and education programmes, dietary guidelines help people achieve healthy eating habits and lifestyles.

Check out the recommendations in your country’s dietary guidelines! (FAO)

Youth Network recognises outstanding young Guyanese THE Aspire Youth Network recently recognised young people from across Guyana, who have contributed to the improvement of society through their work and actions.

Through their Youth Recognition Project done on social media, the network called for locals to nominate persons from across the length and breadth of Guyana, who have created some positive impact in the country. After receiving a number of nominations, the organisation recognised 14 young persons. Twenty-nine-year old medical doctor from Manchester Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Amanda Gray was recognised first.

“I am very enthusiastic about health in general, however, I have taken a keen interest in women’s health, taking into consideration the [number] of health problems that are associated with women daily,” she highlighted.

Georgetown’s youngest councillor, 19-year-old Ayodele Roach, was also recognised.

Roach is currently the vice-chairperson of the Youth for Change (YFC), and a member of the Alliance For Change (AFC). According to her, throughout 2018 she has been engaged in several civic engagement projects that stemmed from her passion to effect positive change in society.

This passion led her to involvement in the Local Government Elections (LGEs) held in November.

“In doing so I took the first step to motivate young persons like myself to “get up and go” make a positive change. I got myself involved in Local Government Elections and ran as PR candidate under the AFC, cam-

Department of Biology at the University of Guyana, where he currently works as a tutor.

Rovindra is also a founding member and former president of the University of Guyana Biology Club.

Also an awardee and recent graduate from UG is Carla Cassiano. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Optometry.

Upon receiving the recognition, she said: “I go by a simple motto: ‘We give sight to everyone we meet’. I am always willing to serve whenever the opportunity presents itself and I never say no.”

Other young people recogRovindra Lakenarine 19-year-old Ayodele Roach 29-year-old Medical Doctor from nized, included: 22-year-old Manchester Village, Corentyne Shaliza Yarde, who was repaigning for youths to become Artist and now Berbice, Amanda Gray more involved in exercising undergraduate stu- cently crowned “Miss Lethem 2018” during their democratic right,” she dent at Yale Univer- the annual Lethem Town Week pageant; 18highlighted. sity, Ashley Anthony and First Responder at year- old volunteer with local civic engageAlso recognised was Schemel Patrick, the Guyana Red Cross Society and volunteer, ment organisation, Young Pioneers, Shivani the former Advocacy and Communications Alan Hussain, were also recognised. And the Rambharose; 25-year-old Fitness Coach at Officer at SASOD where she worked for four current under-21 Caribbean Women’s Cham- TopEnd Training Systems, Dominic Vincente years, focusing on human rights and Lesbian, pion and Women’s Open Bronze Medalist, and young Divya Doerga, who is a certified Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT), Chelsea Edghill was recognised for her con- John Maxwell coach, trainer and speaker.

In an on-line post, the network said: “Even youth and women and gender issues. She is tribution in the field of table tennis. also the co-founder and the secretary on the From the small farming community Gold- though we aimed to only highlight 10 persons, steering committee of SASOD Women’s Arm en Fleece on the Essequibo Coast, Rovindra we ended up recognising 14 individuals under the age of 35 years. We look forward to Guyana (SWAG).

Lakenarine also did his bit in 2018.

Twenty-five-year-old youth, migrant He is a recent graduate of the University following their journey throughout the years and gender rights advocate Derwayne Wills, of Guyana with a BSc. Biology (Distinc- to come.”

“ASPIRE” stands for “Advocates for was also among the cadre of young persons tion), and received the University of Guyana recognised. Wills currently serves as inter- Student Society Award (2018) for making Safe Parenthood; Improving Reproductive im chairman of the Guyana National Youth significant contributions to the University of Equity” and is a youth-led organisation, aiming to empower and serve the youth Council (GNYC)- where he has also been a Guyana in areas other than academics. volunteer since 2013.

After graduating he was retained by the demographic.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

PL prospective head opts out of position

Dinnage wants to stay in broadcasting at Discovery

(BBC) - The Premier League says its prospective new chief executive, Susanna Dinnage, has told the organisation she will not be taking up the position.

Dinnage was named as the replacement for Richard Scudamore in November and was supposed to take up the role early in 2019.

“The committee has reconvened its search and is talking to candidates,” said a Premier League statement.

“There will be no further comment until an appointment is made.”

Dinnage was supposed to join from media organisation Discovery, where she was the global president of the Animal Planet

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channel.

However, she had reflected on the role in recent weeks and informed the Premier League that she had decided that she wanted to stay in broadcasting at Discovery.

She apparently had not given a precise start date as she had a long notice period to serve.

The Premier League is comfortable with acting chief executive Richard Masters and interim chair Claudia Arney continuing for longer as they resume their search.

Prior to joining Discovery in January 2009, Dinnage worked for 10 years at Channel Five and she started her career at MTV.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Russia to miss end-of-year WADA deadline

19

Federer outplayed

by Norrie

Roger Federer of Switzerland gestures to a spectator in the mixed doubles match against Katie Boulter Cameron Norrie of Great Britain during day two of the 2019 Hopman Cup at RAC Arena on December 30, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) Rusada director general Yuri Ganus with Wada president Sir Craig Reedi

(BBC) - Russia is set to miss Monday’s end-of-year deadline to hand over data from its Moscow anti-doping laboratory.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) controversially lifted a three-year ban on the country in September on the strict condition samples were sent by 31 December.

But senior Wada officials now privately accept the deadline will lapse.

Last week, Wada admitted its inspection team had been denied full access to the Moscow samples.

Wada’s experts have yet to return to Russia.

Russia’s anti-doping agency (Rusada) appealed to President Vladimir Putin to help break the impasse, but the country is now at serious risk of being banned once again from international

events following a state-sponsored doping scandal.

Wada’s Compliance Review Committee meets on 14 January in Montreal, Canada and will be under intense pressure to recommend another suspension to the global watchdog’s executive committee.

The news will also be highly embarrassing for Wada’s leadership, which was heavily criticised by athletes and national anti-doping agencies when Rusada was reinstated three months ago.

On 15 November, Wada President Sir Craig Reedie said he was “confident” Russia would meet the deadline.

“I find it very hard to believe that the guarantees made to us by the Russian authorities - that they won’t deliver,” he said.

Jacksonville Jaguars 3-20 Houston Texans (Skysports) - The Houston Texans clinched the AFC South title with a 20-3 beating of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Deshaun Watson threw for 234 yards and ran for a touchdown, and DeAndre Hopkins had 147 yards receiving for the Texans, while the Jaguars as a team managed only 119 yards of total offense The Jaguars scored their only points after Andre Carter fumbled a punt in the first quarter, recovered by Jacksonville at the 10-yard line. They would kick a field goal to take a 3-0 lead, but there would be nothing to shout about thereafter.

The Texans (11-5) won nine in a row after starting 0-3 to save their season and will make their fifth playoff appearance and third in four

years after bouncing back from last year’s 4-12 record in a season where Watson and J.J. Watt sustained season-ending injuries.

Houston built a 14-point lead in the first half behind rushing touchdowns by

Watson and Lamar Miller and made it 20-3 on a 24yard field goal with roughly 11 minutes left of the game.

The Jaguars, looking to eat into that lead later in the fourth quarter, finally managed to move the ball a

Deshaun Watson celebrates his rushing score for the Texans

bit on offense but then Blake Bortles was intercepted in the end zone by Andre Hal. Watt sacked Bortles one and a half times in the game, giving him 16 this year and his fourth season with 15 or more sacks - second-most in NFL history to Reggie White (5).

Despite another disappointing defeat, Jaguars (511) owner Shad Khan issued a statement after the game saying the team is sticking with director of football operations, Tom Coughlin, head coach Doug Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell.

Watson, who ran for 66 yards on Sunday, is the first player in NFL history to throw for at least 4,000 yards (4,165) and 25 touchdowns (26) and rush for 500 yards (551) and five touchdowns (5) in a season.

(REUTERS) - WORLD number three Roger Federer outplayed Briton Cameron Norrie 6-1 6-1 to secure a winning start for defending champions Switzerland at the Hopman Cup on Sunday.

Gearing up for his Australian Open title defence, Federer overcame three break points in his opening service game before rediscovering his rhythm to race out to a 5-0 lead.

With 18 winners and four aces, Federer wrapped up the opening set in 31 minutes.

Norrie, who had defeated Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets on Saturday, struggled to match Federer’s crisp stroke-making as the Swiss gave his team a 1-0 lead.

Federer’s playing partner Belinda Bencic beat Katie Boulter 6-2 7-6(0) in the women’s contest to clinch Switzerland’s victory in the round-robin stage.

The 37-year-old Federer has won the last two Australian Open titles after taking part in the mixed-teams tournament in Perth.

“This was a great start but obviously a long way to go here and in Melbourne,” Federer said. “It’s nice that I’m feeling as good as I am and played a wonderful match against Cameron.”

Last year’s runners-up Germany made a triumphant return when Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber recorded hard-fought victories in their singles matches.

Coming off a title win at the season-ending ATP Finals in London, Zverev countered his 45 unforced errors with 39 winners and eight aces to beat Spanish veteran David Ferrer 6-4 4-6 7-6(0).

After the match, Zverev paid tribute to former world number three Ferrer, who will retire from the sport next year.

“All the credit is (to) David, coming back from a set down and break down,” Zverev said.

“He is the greatest fighter, maybe, that we have ever seen in tennis. What he has done in tennis over the past 15 or 20 years has been absolutely amazing.”

World number two Kerber beat Garbine Muguruza 6-2 3-6 6-3 to snap a five-match losing streak against the two-time Grand Slam winner.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Pogba brace helps United thump Bournemouth

(REUTERS) - THE re-born Paul Pogba scored twice, for the second time since Jose Mourinho’s departure from the club, as Manchester United beat Bournemouth 4-1 to make it three wins in a row for caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

After emphatic wins over Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town, the manner of the victory was further evidence of the return of attacking football under Solskjaer and of the liberated way in which the players are performing.

None seem to be relishing their football again more than World Cup winner Pogba, who has netted four of the 12 goals that rejuvenated United have scored in the three matches since their former Norwegian striker took the reins.

It took Pogba just five minutes to strike for sixthplaced United, sliding the ball in at the back post after a wonderful piece of dribbling and a precise low cross from Marcus Rashford.

The Frenchman, who scored twice against Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day, then burst into the box to head home an Ander Herrera cross from deep to make it 2-0.

“It is different, we still won games with the old manager but it is just a different style of playing,” said Pogba.

“We are more offensive and we are creating more chances and that is how we want to play. I always want to do more, but I want to

play for the team and play simple.”

Not only was Pogba appearing in more advanced positions but he looked back to his confident self on the ball, strutting while in possession and constantly looking to create.

when David Brooks skipped around the United defence and placed a cross on the head of Nathan Ake who nodded past David De Gea. Romelu Lukaku made it 4-1, two minutes after coming on as a 70th minute substitute, latching on to

er Eric Bailly on Ryan Fraser, with the Ivorian rightly being shown a straight red card.

“In the first half we attacked the game with a high tempo and high energy but the response to their goal was great. We managed the game

Chelsea wins at Crystal Palace

(BBC) - CHELSEA increased the gap between themselves and fifth-placed Arsenal to five points as N’Golo Kante’s second-half strike earned them victory at Crystal Palace.

Kante scored the only goal of the game in the 51st minute when he broke forward from midfield to convert David Luiz’s throughball.

There were few clear-cut chances as the Blues dominated possession and Palace sat back hoping to catch the opposition on the counter-attack - a tactic which failed to work as Roy Hodgson’s Eagles took 85 minutes to register their first effort. That is now two successive games without a goal.

N’Golo Kante of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea FC at Selhurst Park on December 30, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Romelu Lukaku of Manchester United (left) celebrates with Paul Pogba after scoring a goal to make it 4-1 during the Premier League match between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford on December 30, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

There was real class about United’s third, in the 45th minute, as Anthony Martial delivered a low cross with the outside of his boot and Rashford guided it home off the outside of his outstretched foot.

Bournemouth pulled a goal back in stoppage-time at the end of the first half though

a Pogba through ball and hooking the ball past the advancing Asmir Begovic.

Pogba was inches away from a hat-trick with a low drive from 20 yards out that struck the post.

The relaxed and positive mood was slightly undone by a wild lunge in the 79th minute from United defend-

much better than against Huddersfield,” said Solskjaer.

“We are still looking for a clean sheet - you can’t switch off for one second in this league.

“It’s a very very good performance, the crowd was enjoying it but now Newcastle, the next one, is a different kind of test.”

City survive scare to beat Southampton

Sergio Aguero scored 18 goals in the Premier League in 2018 - his best tally in a calendar year when making less than 30 appearances for Manchester City

(BBC) - MANCHESTER City survived a brief scare to beat Southampton and reduce league leaders Liverpool’s advantage to seven points.

Southampton responded to David Silva’s early opener when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg took the ball off Oleksandr Zinchenko and fired it into the top corner.

City had luck on their side when Raheem Sterling’s shot deflected off James Ward-Prowse to make it 2-1.

Sergio Aguero’s backpost header completed the scoring before half-time.

Southampton goalscorer Hojbjerg - who had only just returned from

Chelsea’s Willian came close to scoring with a free-kick that struck the post, and Ross Barkley also hit the woodwork with a hooked effort.

Fourth-placed Blues now have 43 points, one behind City and two behind Spurs. Palace remains in 14th with 19 points.

The Kante of 2018-19 is made up of different spec to previous models. Gone is the role of anchor man in midfield - the ball-winner who would allow other midfielders to make forays into the opposition’s final third.

The remodelled version has been given permission to burst forward from the right of a midfield trio. During a largely nondescript opening 45 minutes, he made two runs into the Palace box - the first resulting in a strike that missed Vicente Guaita’s far post by two feet.

Sarri’s perseverance with the tactic paid off six minutes after the break when Kante grabbed his third goal of the season after again breaking from midfield.

This time it was defender Luiz the provider, with a threaded pass that found the Frenchman whose shot had enough power to beat the hand of the former Valencia keeper.

Willian also went close for the Blues with a free-kick that came off the Palace post, while fellow midfielder Barkley hooked a shot from close range that grazed the woodwork.

It was a competent if unremarkable display from Sarri’s side, but they did not have to break sweat against a lifeless Palace attack. suspension - was shown a straight red card for a lunging tackle on Fernandinho with just over five minutes to go.

City had a number of decent chances as Silva, Aguero and Riyad Mahrez all went close in the first half and Aguero smacked the crossbar after the break.

Southampton threatened too and Charlie Austin was twice denied by City keeper Ederson in the first half before Hojbjerg’s equaliser.

But the Saints were ultimately undone by Pep Guardiola’s free-flowing side, who move up to second place in the table.

Liverpool went 10 points clear of City at the top of the table with a devastating 5-1 thrashing of Arsenal on Saturday, meaning the defending champions needed victory to keep pace in the title race.

City appeared to feel the pressure on Boxing Day when they squandered an early lead and allowed Leicester to win 2-1 at the King Power Stadium.

But they stood up to the challenge at St Mary’s - peppering Southampton’s goal from the off and responding to the equaliser with two quick goals on the stroke of half-time.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

21

Bancroft fails on return to cricket (REUTERS) - AUSTRALIAN batsman Cameron Bancroft’s return from a ball-tampering ban proved to be short lived after he was dismissed for two runs for the Perth Scorchers in the domestic ‘Big Bash’ Twenty20 competition at Launceston on Sunday.

Bancroft was banned from international, state and Big Bash cricket for nine months for his part in the Cape Town scandal in March, which also led to

Cameron Bancroft walks on the field before his return to Australian cricket, Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers, BBL 2018-19, Launceston, December 30, 2018

Paine praises India bowling while missing Warner and Smith (REUTERS) - AUSTRALIA captain Tim Paine praised India’s bowling attack for securing victory in the third test on Sunday, but believes the result could have been different had Steve Smith and David Warner been available for the home side in Melbourne.

A rebuilding Australia slumped to a 137-run defeat to fall 2-1 behind in the four-match series after their batsmen surrendered meekly for 151 in the first innings and 261 in the second at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“If you take two or three of the best players out of anyone’s lineup, you’re going to struggle a little bit at times and you’re going to have inconsistent performances and that’s what we’re seeing,” wicketkeeper Paine told reporters.

“If you took (Cheteshwar) Pujara and Virat (Kohli) out of India’s side, I think you’d have the same conversation.

“If you’ve got world class players that aren’t in the team... Are they going to add to our team? I think they will.

we have got world class players that are available soon to come back into this side and clearly when they do it will make a difference.”

LACK OF EXPERIENCE India number three Pujara, who scored 123 in the first test in Adelaide and 106 in the first innings in Melbourne, leads all scorers for the series with 328 at an average 54.66, ahead of Kohli’s 259.

Travis Head, with 217 runs, is the sole Australian

Pat Cummins’s 63 was the highest score by the home side in Melbourne, an embarrassment for his top-order team mates.

Paine felt it understandable his makeshift batting lineup would struggle at the MCG against India’s formidable pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami, with wily left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja added to the mix.

“I think it’s inexperience, it’s pressure, it’s India’s bowling attack (who) are as good as probably

Tim Paine looks on, Australia v India, 3rd Test, Melbourne, 5th day, December 30, 2018

India, by contrast, declared both times they batted before setting Australia a daunting victory target of 399 runs.

Comfortably the side’s leading test batsmen, former skipper Smith and Warner still have three months to serve of year-long bans for ball-tampering against South Africa in March, a scandal that dragged Australia’s reputation through the mud.

Opener Cameron Bancroft, the third player sanctioned for the Cape Town incident, has just become eligible for international cricket after his nine-month suspension expired on Saturday.

Ishant Sharma is mobbed by team-mates after taking Australia’s last wicket, Australia v India, 3rd Test, Melbourne, 5th day, December 30, 2018

“Whilst at the moment it’s challenging and everyone’s frustrated, it is what it is and everyone’s working as hard as they possibly can, and we’re getting guys getting experience in high pressure situations and learning on the job.

“The silver lining is that

batsman in the top-five on the list and also the only one with an average higher than 30 for the series, which concludes with the fourth and final test in Sydney starting on Thursday.

Not one Australian has managed to secure a century so far and tail-ender

most of these guys have ever faced,” the skipper added of Australia’s batting woes.

“I think it’s pretty common that you will see that when you’ve got inexperienced players playing in your top six against high quality bowling.”

12-month bans for former Australia captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner.

T h e 2 6 - y e a r- o l d found himself called into action earlier than expected, with the Scorchers struggling on 16 for three in the fourth over against the Hobart Hurricanes.

Australian media reported that parts of the Tasmanian crowd erupted in a chorus of boos when Bancroft was announced

as the incoming batsman.

Facing fast bowler Riley Meredith, Bancroft clipped the first ball off his pads for two runs. He blocked the second delivery, before edging the third to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade as the Scorchers fell to 19-4.

Bancroft will have a chance to earn an Australian test recall when he resumes as a top-order batsman for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield in February.

SCOREBOARD India 1st innings Hanuma Vihari c Aaron Finch b Pat Cummins

8 Mayank Agarwal c Tim Paine b Pat Cummins 76 Cheteshwar Pujara b Pat Cummins 106 Virat Kohli c Aaron Finch b Mitchell Starc

82 Ajinkya Rahane lbw Nathan Lyon

34 Rohit Sharma Not Out

63 Rishabh Pant c Usman Khawaja b Mitchell Starc

39 Ravindra Jadeja c Tim Paine b Josh Hazlewood 4 Extras: 15b 14lb 1nb 0pen 1w

31 Total: (169.4 overs)

443 decl Bowling: Mitchell Starc 28-7872-3.11, Josh Hazlewood 31.4 -10-86-1-2.72, Nathan Lyon 48-7-110-1-2.29, Pat Cummins 34 10-72-3-2.12, Mitchell Marsh 26- 4-51-0-1.96-1w-1nb, Aaron Finch 2-0-8-0-4.00 ...............................................................

Australia 1st innings Marcus Harris c Ishant Sharma b Jasprit Bumrah 22 Aaron Finch c Mayank Agarwal b Ishant Sharma 8 Usman Khawaja c Mayank Agarwal b Ravindra Jadeja 21 Shaun Marsh lbw Jasprit Bumrah

19 Travis Head b Jasprit Bumrah

20 Mitchell Marsh c Ajinkya Rahane b Ravindra Jadeja 9 Tim Paine c Rishabh Pant b Jasprit Bumrah

22 Pat Cummins b Mohammed Shami

17 Mitchell Starc Not Out

7 Nathan Lyon lbw Jasprit Bumrah

0 Josh Hazlewood b Jasprit Bumrah

0 Extras: 4b 0lb 1nb 0pen 1w

6 Total: (66.5 overs)

151 all out Bowling: Ishant Sharma 13-2-41-1-3.15-1w-1nb, Jasprit Bumrah 15.5-4-33-6-2.08, Ravindra Jadeja 25-8-45-2-1.80, Mohammed Shami 10-2-27-1-2.70, Hanuma Vihari 3-2-1-0-0.33 ...........................................................

India 2nd innings Hanuma Vihari c Usman Khawaja b Pat Cummins 13 Mayank Agarwal b Pat Cummins

42 Cheteshwar Pujara c Marcus Harris b Pat Cummins 0 Virat Kohli c Marcus Harris b Pat Cummins

0 Ajinkya Rahane c Tim Paine b Pat Cummins

1 Rohit Sharma c Shaun Marsh b Josh Hazlewood

5 Rishabh Pant c Tim Paine b Josh Hazlewood

33 Ravindra Jadeja c Usman Khawaja b Pat Cummins 5 Mohammed Shami Not Out

0 Extras: 5b 1lb 0nb 0pen 1w

7 Total: (37.3 overs)

106 decl Bowling: Mitchell Starc 3-1-11-0-3.67, Josh Hazlewood 10.33-22-2-2.10, Nathan Lyon 13-1-40-0-3.08, Pat Cummins 11-327-6-2.45-1w .................................................................

Australia 2nd innings Marcus Harris c Mayank Agarwal b Ravindra Jadeja 13 Aaron Finch c Virat Kohli b Jasprit Bumrah

3 Usman Khawaja lbw Mohammed Shami 33 Shaun Marsh lbw Jasprit Bumrah

44 Travis Head b Ishant Sharma

34 Mitchell Marsh c Virat Kohli b Ravindra Jadeja 10 Tim Paine c Rishabh Pant b Ravindra Jadeja

26 Pat Cummins c Cheteshwar Pujara b Jasprit Bumrah 63 Mitchell Starc b Mohammed Shami

18 Nathan Lyon c Rishabh Pant b Ishant Sharma 7 Josh Hazlewood Not Out

0 Extras: 2b 6lb 0nb 0pen 2w

10 Total: (89.3 overs)

261 all out Bowling: Ishant Sharma 14.3-1-40-2-2.76, Jasprit Bumrah 193-53-3-2.79-2w, Ravindra Jadeja 32-6-82-3-2.56, Mohammed Shami 21-2-71-2-3.38, Hanuma Vihari 3-1-7-0-2.33

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

Eighth Atkinson Brothers football tournament ends without glitch

INGRID Harris is satisfied with the 2018 Atkinson Brothers Five-a-Side Football tournament which ended in the wee hours of Thursday morning with another dominant performance from the Silver Sand Football Club ladies and exciting battles in the male divisions.

The chairperson of the tournament’s organising committee said that the eighth year of competition “went smoothly”. She added that all stakeholders played their part in making the Guyana Football Federation-sanctioned event another success.

Thirty-four teams (mostly from the Moruca sub region) battled in five divisions, over six nights under lights in 30-minute games.

The Atkinson Brothers Football Club won two of the four male divisions, while Silver Sand registered their seventh championship win in the tournament which was played at the Kumaka Recreational ground,

The Silver Sand FC have dominated the female division over the years.

Dhani spins his way to nine wickets in U-17 clash

Bhaskar Dhani (right) and Romario Ramdihol were on target for the RHCCCC.

THIRTEEN-year-old left-arm spinner Bhaskar Dhani sent a strong message to the Berbice Cricket Board when he chalked up nine wickets against Mt Sinai in a recent U-17 clash.

The Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club bowler, who is part of a squad of 50 short-listed cricketers currently in preparation for U-15 inter-country cricket, finished with career- best figures of 9-20.

RHCCCC were led by another youngster when they batted.

Eleven-year-old Romario Ramdihol scored 34 runs to push RHCCCC to 119 all out.

Dhani then produced the best figures by any Berbician this season to restrict Mt Sinai to 46.

Santa Rosa, Region One. In the senior male division, a Mark Harris strike in the seventh minute of play decided the championship clash against the emerging Jungle Boys FC. National women’s footballer, Annalisa Vincent, dominated the female final with three goals. She netted goals in the sixth minute, the 17th minute and the 21th minute of play.

Both the U-15 and U-17 clashes were decided by spot kicks.

In the U-15 final, the Rising Suns FC, sponsored

by Viper from Barama, defeated Kamawatta 2-1 after a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation time.

There was also a 1-1 stalemate at the end of regular play in the U-17 final, which forced more penalty kicks. The Atkinson Brothers emerged victorious with a 3-1 penalty win.

Meanwhile, in the veteran’s clash, a Floyd La Rose brace led Kumaka to a 2-0 win over Huridiah.

GCB extends congratulations to Kallicharran on British Empire Medal THE membership and Executive Committee of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) along with the cricketing fraternity extended congratulations to Guyanese batting legend, Alvin Kallicharran, on being awarded the prestigious British Empire Medal in the Queen’s 2019 honours list.

The Medal of the Order of the British Empire was first established in 1917, along with the Order of the British Empire. The medal was part of the Order and could be awarded for either meritorious service or for gallantry. It was awarded to 2,015 people, 800 of whom were from foreign countries. In 1922, the original medal was discontinued and split into two separate honours which still formed part of the Order of the British Empire. These two honours were known as the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service (usually referred to as British Empire Medal, BEM) and the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry (usually referred to as Empire Gallantry Medal, EGM).

Alvin Kallicharran was born on March 21st 1949 and hails from the small village of Port Mourant in Berbice and debuted for

Guyana at the tender age of 17 against the Windward Islands in Grenada and for the West Indies in 1972 against New Zealand at Bourda. Alvin has had a very long and distinguished career that produced close to 50,000 runs in Test, ODI, First Class and List A cricket during his career. He has represented Guyana, West Indies, Warwickshire, Transvaal, Orange Free State and Queensland during his career. His test career spanned the period 1972 to 1981 during which he represented the West Indies during the transformation period in the late 70s when they indisputably became the best team in the world. He was part of us winning the first two World Cups played in London. He played in 66 test matches and scored 4,399 test runs with 12 centuries and 21 fifties. For 8 of those fifties, he got out in the 90s and could so easily have made 20 centuries in that space of time. Alvin is well remembered for his onslaught against the great Dennis Lillee in the 11th match of the inaugural World Cup in England in1975 when he literally decimated him for 35 runs off just 10 deliveries. This stat compares very

favourably with top T20 strike rates. He was equally at home against both spin and pace and was described

by Clive Lloyd as one of the most complete batsmen of his time and possibly of all time. Alvin captained the West Indies team for two series, against Australia and in India, where he scored his highest test innings of 187.

Alvin joined Warwickshire in 1971, playing for their 2nd XI, but quickly advanced to the 1st XI in the following year when his playing career lasted well into the late 80s. He possibly had his best year in 1983 when he was the only cricketer on the county circuit to score over 2000 runs in the season with 8 centuries, 3 of which were double hundreds. Quite justifiably, Alvin was named one of the Wisden’s 5 cricketers of the year in 19 This legend has also contributed immensely to charities, having taken part in and organized matches in various parts of the world.

Alvin, along with Sunil Gavaskar, organized a charity match where India played the Rest of World XI in 1997 for the Sri Satya Sai Baba entity where Sachin Tendulkar participated. Alvin has supported numerous other charity events such as

the Indian Ocean Disaster Relief, the Oracle Head and Neck Cancer Research Trust and has participated in other charitable matches when he worked for the Lashings World XI during the period 2001-2009. In 2006, he was a part of ‘The Sports Relief’ which raised over £16m. He was a part of the group that rendered assistance in 2004 to the Tsunami victims and has participated in the annual PM John Major charity match which raises funds for cancer awareness.

It is without a shadow of a doubt that this esteemed son of our soil has fully displayed the everlasting qualities of humility and service to humankind. His love and dedication for the game of cricket has translated into immense pleasure and happiness for millions around the world during his professional career and has more than adequately contributed his sterling reputation and service beyond the boundary in other charitable causes.

The entire country is united in its pride and joy for this richly justifiable recognition of the British Empire Medal Award onto Alvin Isaac Kallicharran in the Queen’s honors list for 2019.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, December 31, 2018

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GKC recounts successful 2018

Master Frank Woon-A-Tai makes a point to students during one of the GKC training session this year

The GKC students during a demonstration at their Dojo.

THE end of the year is a time to reflect, take stock of the year past, and plan for the year ahead. For the Guyana Karate College (GKC), the year that has passed feels like a nanomoment since its last year-end reflection.

As they enjoy the customary celebrations of the season and look forward to embracing a new year, the GKC has considered it important to take a moment to reflect, remember, and appraise the year that has passed in the context of quantifying that which has or has not been achieved, and laying out its plans and programs for 2019.

THE YEAR BEHIND In 2018, The Guyana Karate College’s Vice Chairman and Vice Chief Instructor, Shihan Jeffrey Wong, was able to earn his 7th Degree Black Belt, also known as Shichidan— only one of two Shodan Karate Masters in Guyana under the International Karate Daigaku entitled to wear the award in this traditional Japanese style of martial arts. Wong credits the other Shotokan masters that came before, including Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-a-Tai, for what he considers the privilege of testing.

Shihan Wong enjoys the philosophy of respect, self-improvement and mind and body control that goes with Shotokan Karate. He said, “Traditionally, you rest in place for a while and grow into the rank, life experiences and wisdom are part of the Shotokan practice.”

Additionally, three other senior Instructors of the Guyana Karate College were tested and upgraded to the rank of 6th Degree Black Belts, also known as Rokudan and they are Senseis Dr. Guy Low, Aubrey Bettencourt and Terrence Nicholas.

They achieved this level through continued practice of their

Some of the students of the GKC

martial arts skills for well over forty years as well as the practice of the tenets of the martial arts for the betterment of mankind.

These tenets include humility, courtesy in all matters, charity in giving, high moral character, unconquerable spirit and certain victory.

During this year, several other Karatekas of the GKC also earned their first, second and third degree black belts.

In 2018, karatekas from the GKC attended and competed in the International Karate Daigaku World Karate Championships, also known as the IKD Karate World Cup, the highest level of competition for karate organized by the International Karate Daigaku. The competition was held in Barbados with the Guyana Karate College earning fourth place, not as good as they had hoped for or had done at the two previous World Championships in Toronto, Canada in 2012 and 2015, when they placed second on those two previous occasions. This, they believe, was due to the fact that there were some early injuries to some of their more skilful martial artists and the absence of some of their more capable and experienced karatekas who were unavailable for the tournament.

For this year, the GKC also progressed with the construction of its new Dojo and headquarters located at Liliendaal, by laying the floor slab of their new edifice. This is in addition to the portal frame and roofing that was completed the year before.

THE WAY FORWARD In the words of George Harrison: ‘And if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.’

The Guyana Karate Collee has an ambitious and progressive vision for karate in Guyana during the next year and looks

forward to bringing it to life. Their vision is to have more people positively engaging with karate, in more places, more often – for life.

Aware that the future strength of karate-do in Guyana lies in our people -- players, parents, instructors, officials, staff, volunteers, supporters and other friends of karate-- the GKC proposes in 2019 to work collaboratively to get more Guyanese engaging with karate in meaningful and positive ways. The college will provide more opportunities for more people to take part more often and to stay involved with karate as social or competitive karatekas and as instructors, officials, supporters or volunteers.

As karate continues getting ready to make its debut in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Guyana Karate College shall be hosting the Caribbean Karate Championships or the International Karate Daigaku Caribbean Cup, that will be their flagship event for the year. At this international tournament, the GKC is planning to do much better and indeed is hoping to win the IKD Caribbean Cup next year. As part of its endeavours to increase its success at top competitions of the sport, it shall have its karatekas undergo a rigorous training schedule next year.

The college will also be aiming to complete the construction of its state-of-the-art Dojo, Fitness Centre and Headquarters in 2019, and shall be launching a recruitment drive for new students. Increasing karate in the schools and encouraging more adults into the martial art shall be on its agenda.

The strategic pillars that the GKC has set itself for 2019 will enhance the karate brand and make it accessible, relevant and rewarding for all Guyanese, deliver national athletes and teams that will inspire and excite the people of Guyana.

GKC recounts successful 2018 Page

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The GKC students during a demonstration at their Dojo.

Page

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Paine praises India Bowling while missing Warner and Smith

Eighth Atkinson Brothers football tournament ends without glitch 22 Page

Virat Kohli is overjoyed at Pat Cummins’ dismissal, Australia v India, 3rd Test, Melbourne, 5th day, December 30, 2018

Russia to miss end-of-year WADA deadline Page

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2018